Normalizing Menstruation and Use of Pads: The Barriers, Biases, and Costs

Opinion. By Precious Nwonu

Menstruation, also known as a period, is the monthly shedding of the uterine lining in sexually mature females, occurring approximately every 28 days, though it can vary. During this natural reproductive cycle, the body thickens the uterine lining in preparation for a potential pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the lining breaks down and blood is released through the vagina, usually lasting 3-7 days. Common symptoms include cramping, bloating, mood changes, fatigue, and breast tenderness. Menstruation is a natural and essential part of human life, playing a vital role in the reproductive process.

A lot of girls do not practice proper hygiene when they’re on their period. And that’s because they don’t have proper guidance on how to go about it. As a young girl or lady, it’s advised to change your pad every five hours, most especially on the first two or 3 days of your flow. And even less than five hours, if you’re on a heavy flow.

When teenagers in some schools in Ewekoro local government, Ogun state during an outreach I attended by Bethel Initiatives supported by Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, a member of the house of representatives of Ifo Ewekoro Federal Constituency carried out a sensitization programme at the school, listening to young girls express their difficulty using a pad came to me as a rude shock. When they were asked about their hygiene process during their period, affordability of pad, their awareness on sanitary pad, etc., some of them narrated they don’t know how to dispose their pad. A number of them said they “I just pull it off and dump it in the trash.” They also described how difficult it was using the pad and so they end up getting stained while still wearing their pad. Imagine a purpose defeated.

When asked the how long (in terms of hours) each pad was changed and replaced, majority of the girls said they used a single pad for each day so it can last them for the period of days they will be on their flow. Their reason? The high cost of pad was their justification for this level of unhygienic practices.

As a result of the high cost of pads, some girls tear open the pad to dispose the tissue inside and fold a piece of clothing material in between the leather of the pad and use them.

Most teenagers do not have proper guidance on what to do when they’re on their flow. And so they go around asking people around them like their friends, adults, they feel are more experienced than them for advise on what to do. These people advise them based on their own experience, which can sometimes be helpful or harmful to them.

Due to naivety, many young girls simply run with the advice. Some are told when they are on their period, they shouldn’t get close to men because they can get pregnant. Only to discover later on their own they’ve been advised wrongly. Ignorance can sometimes expose girls to sexual exploitation when they seek answers from men or young boys.

While there are students who use pad yet don’t know how to use it and practice good hygiene, there are those who can’t afford or are aware of a product called ‘pad.’ These sets of teenagers result in using a piece of towel, wrapper, tissue paper, in place of pads. Unfortunately, don’t know how to properly dispose of these items after usage.

If girls/women don’t take care of themselves during their period they’re expose to serious health problems which can lead to serious complications. Poor hygiene, such as not changing sanitary products regularly, can lead to bacterial infections like Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) or yeast infections.

Ignoring menstrual cramps can lead to exacerbation of underlying conditions like endometriosis or adenomyosis. Additionally, neglecting to prioritize self-care can result in fatigue, mood disturbances, and decreased immune function, making them more susceptible to illnesses. Not managing heavy bleeding or prolonged periods can lead to anemia, a condition characterized by iron deficiency and fatigue.

Dismissing menstrual health can also mask underlying reproductive issues, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can have long-term consequences on fertility and overall well-being.

In this time and age there are a lot of teenagers who are yet to have access to a sanitary pad, some till they clock 18, they don’t know how a sanitary pad looks like. It’s pathetic, we have a lot of Non Government Organisations who set up organisations just for this cause but we are still facing this problem.

It’s more pathetic sanitary pad organisations have refused to find a way on making this cheap and accessible for all. As a young lady, I know how I lament everytime the cost go up each time I want to buy. As a consumer of Virony after changing from a popular brand I have been using since my teenage days due to the high price. When I heard the price had added, I had to rush to the supermarket in my estate, where they still have the old stock to get as much my money can get before I can buy the added price. But can you say so for these young girls?

Yes we wouldn’t blame the companies completely, the economy of the country is affecting their production. But then there’s a way they can go about this, to make it accessible for these young girls to afford sanitary pads.

Due to some of these young girls being unable to afford sanitary pads, they’re exposed to a lot of health dangers caused by improper menstrual health hygiene, like Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Yeast Infections, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), Vaginal Itching and Irritation, Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs), etc

For this issue to be solved, NGOs in charge of these girls having access to sanitary pads should create more awareness, look for sponsors to assist in the project, like sanitary pads companies, sensitize these women the importance of healthy menstrual hygiene and ensure girls and women partake in the sensitization effectively.

These NGOs should make them prioritize their menstrual health and self-care, women can mitigate these risks and maintain their overall health and quality of life.

Another solution, is for the sanitary pads companies to reduce the price of their products, so it can be accessible by these young girls and ladies.